The 2024 social security budget was finally approved by Parliament on Monday, December 4, after the National Assembly rejected a final motion of no confidence in the government tabled by left-wing MPs. answer to last resort to 49.3 by Elisabeth Borne To pass this text without a vote, the motion received only 108 of the 289 votes needed to overthrow the government.
“You know this 49.3 is necessary, but you act like you’re outraged.”, the Prime Minister started in a nearly deserted chamber, blaming the oppositions for the shortened debates, which she said denied dialogue. This Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) “is a text of social progress”argued MMe Terminal, boastful “A budget of 640 billion euros for our social security”.
Without convincing the left, which had put its divisions on ice, to denounce a in a unified motion “Transit with violence” concerning a text that “destroys social security and brutalizes our public hospital and its caregivers”. “They shamelessly bullied Parliament”started the socialist Arthur Delaporte. “They have waved the red flag of the national deficit to better justify budget cuts, austerity and investment failures” in health, added the “rebellious” MP Ségolène Amiot.
Spending increased by 3.2%, deficit 10.7 billion euros
Although they also contested the text, the other opposition groups did not vote for the no-confidence motion. For the National Rally (RN) the text does not respond to the “major public health problems in the areas”. But “Your systematic approach to submitting all types of applications is tiring”, started the RN MP Christophe Bentz to the left. The right, in turn, rules out government censorship over a budget text. However, Republican MP (LR) Yannick Neuder castigated a PLFSS “Far from the goal”citing the “vacancies in public hospitals” or even that “Alarming psychological situation”.
The Senate, dominated by the right, had for its part adopted a largely revised version of this budget and thereby questioned financial developments that were considered unrealistic. But the government rejected most of its amendments. This financing draft envisages an increase in spending in 2024 by 3.2% compared to 2023 to 254.9 billion euros. The “Secu” deficit, estimated at 8.8 billion euros in 2023 and 10.7 billion euros in 2024, according to the latest government forecasts, could reach 17.5 billion by 2027.
Certain economic measures are particularly met with resistance, such as the possibility of suspending an insured person’s benefits if a doctor appointed by the employer considers the interruption to work to be unjustified. Other PLFSS measures are more consensual, such as: B. free condoms for people under 26 or reimbursement of reusable regular protection for women under 26. In order to curb the loss of revenue associated with exemptions from contributions, the government has adopted a majority proposal to freeze the thresholds for the highest eligible salaries. A measure that the left sees as too timid.
Two dossiers also fueled parliamentary debates without appearing in the text. After threatening to drain the reserves of the Agirc-Arrco supplementary pension plan managed by the social partners, the government finally gave in. Without abandoning the demand for this system to participate in the revaluation of small pensions, the executive decided to rely on negotiations between employers and unions. The government’s possible increase in deductibles and flat-rate contributions for policyholders, without being formalized in this budget, also fueled discussions. “The decision has not been made yet”assured Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau.
